The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-10-11
FARMS AND FARMERS.
Short Talks With the Men Who
Guide the PloW.
QUESTIONS oNFARM TOPICS ANSWERED
Winter Care of Stock.

Before severe weather begins preparations
for protection of animals against cold should
be made. In our mild climate protection from
the prevailing cold winds and from rain are all
that are really necessary. These may be had at
such small cost that farmer who does not
have them is without excuse. Ii the farmer
does not make provisions against cold, one or
two things inevitably follows: Either an ami
NAL will eat more food to keep up its tempera-
ture, or it will consume its own tissues to do
1t, and in the latter case come out of winter
quarters reduced in flesh, reduced in strength
and vitality, and in that condition when the
horns and tail are specially supposed to be
hollow, but in point of fact the whole body is
hollow. Viewed therefore simply as bust
ness transaction, it resolves itself into this
which is cheaper, shelter or food?
Which costs more, rail or pole pen,
with roof of planks, and pine brush against
its sides; or the additional hay and grain an
exposed animal will consume. The answer
cannot be doubtful. Planks to cover stall
I0x1O feet will not cost more than two dollars,
poles not exceeding one dollar and the build
ing one dollar more, or four dollars in all.
The planks after the winter is over can be
taken down and stacked under shelter, and
will last many years, say four years, making
the total cost of shelter one collar year.
Does any one doubt that he would save dol
lars worth of feed from such shelter? Would
not q COW thus sheltered through the winter
yield more than dollars worth Of milk and
butter compared with one on same feed drawn
up and drenched with every cold rain that
falls? Consider also the increased value of
manure collected in these stalls and sheltered
from rains. The urine of animals contains
nearly all The nitrogen and potash which are
thrown off by them. When the animals are
kept in open lots these are practically lost.
In preparing shelters it is well to take adj
vantage of location and surroundings. A
southern slope and one protected from winds
coming from northwest to northeast is to be
preferred. If there is no natural barrier, it
would pay to set out rows of cedars, or other
evergreens, and keep them trimmed so as to
make dense hedge Build the stalls in two
lines, (if there are many,) one set facing the
southeast, the other the southwest, meeting at
an angle towards the north. The two lines OF
stalls will thus mutually protect each other.
Against the northern sides of the stalls pile up
pine brush close and dense. Have the roofs
SIoping towards the north, so the water will
not drip on persons or cows passing in and out,
and so the sunshine can enter the stalls freely,
and have ditch to carry off the water
from the roofs. Such an arrangement
will cost much less than an deliberately
planned barn, and will answer every pur-
pose Free ventilation with sufficient protec-
tion, small risk from fire, as compared with
barns, may be thus secured at small expense.
The question has been raised and expert
nents made to show that it is true economy to
warm even the drinking water of animals dur
ing severe weather. Tests show that the flow
of milk is sensibly increased when COW is
supplied with warm in place OF ice cold water.
That which is Just drawn from the well might
certainly be afforded on every farm. Where
COWS are Stopped the Stops can certainly be
given warm, with little trouble or expense.
Remember that in all cases, and in every form,
keeping an animal warm in cold weather, is
equivalent to so much food, and practically
saves that much.